Chapter 26 New Year's Eve Dinner
There were only two people left in the warm room again.
Cui Junji watched his son's small figure disappear behind the door curtain. His chest felt like it was blocked by a piece of water-soaked cotton wool, making it heavy and hard to breathe.
He picked up the tea that had already gone cold and drank it all in one gulp. The cold liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the dryness and coldness in his heart.
Li seemed oblivious to his unusual behavior. She straightened her sleeves and calmly mentioned another matter. "By the way, the other day I went to the palace to pay my respects to the Empress. She asked about your husband's hardships in the Northern Frontier. From her words, she seemed to be quite concerned about the deposed Crown Prince. You should be more cautious at the border and avoid getting involved in unnecessary past disputes."
She raised her eyes, her gaze calm but sharp. "The Cui family can no longer withstand another storm. You, me, and Zhang'er are all pawns in this chess game. No regrets after making a move, and we must proceed with caution. What do you think, my husband?"
Never regret your move and be cautious at every step.
Cui Junji looked at Li's flawlessly made-up face and felt a chilling fatigue spreading from deep within his bones, instantly engulfing his limbs. No matter how blazing the charcoal fire in the warm room or how precious the agarwood, it couldn't warm him even a little.
He twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a cold smile. His voice was dry, "Madam, you are absolutely right. A chess piece must naturally fulfill its duties." He stood up and said, "There are still some military affairs to attend to. Madam, please rest early."
After saying this, without waiting for Li's response, he turned around, lifted the curtain and walked out.
The heavy brocade curtain fell, blocking out the warm fragrance from the warm room and also blocking out Li's calm gaze.
A cold breeze suddenly rushed in from the corridor, blowing Cui Junji's clothes. He stood in the shadow of the corridor, looking at the rockery in the courtyard covered with a light layer of snow. Before his eyes, he saw the brightly lit night market in Yunzhong City and the woman eating mutton skewers with a smile on her face.
He subconsciously touched his sleeves; they were empty. No candy for the children, no gift for his wife. Only the endless, cold shackles of the Cui family's legitimate son.
It turns out that he is the same as Li.
In the distance, the faint sound of night watch drums could be heard. As the New Year approached, the bustle of the border seemed to reach through the high walls, yet it seemed so distant.
Cui Junji took a deep breath of the icy air, the chill penetrating his lungs. He turned and walked towards his study, deep within the mansion, which had never made him feel warm.
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On New Year's Eve, Xunyang City was blanketed in a blanket of silver, a blanket of snow after days of heavy snowfall. The bitter north wind seemed to have subsided somewhat, leaving only a fine frosty cloud of snow, which, illuminated by the red lanterns hanging from the eaves and treetops, resembled scattering golden fragments.
Inside the Shen residence, warmth filled the air. The charcoal basin burned brightly, dispelling the bitter cold of the frontier. The hall was small, its furnishings simple, yet its meticulous decor made it feel exceptionally cozy.
On the wall are paper-cut window decorations that Wen Youqing cut herself - vivid horses and plump ears of wheat.
On the table was the New Year's Eve dinner that Wen Youqing and the cooks in the mansion had been busy preparing all afternoon: a large pot of steaming lamb with milky white soup, some refreshing cold wild onions, a plate of golden and shiny fried rice cakes, and a small jar of warmed frontier liquor "Shaodaozi".
The aroma of food mixed with the fresh scent of burning pine branches filled the small space.
It was rare for Shen Zijie to wear a dark blue cotton uniform, which made him look less sharp than on the battlefield and more calm at home.
He and Wen Youqing, like two ethereal butterflies, bustled around the table, setting the table and warming the wine, their faces adorned with contented, tranquil smiles. This scene, so ordinary, was a warmth he had never dreamed of in the cold concrete jungle of his previous life, or in the blazing borderlands of this one.
"Hurry up and sit down," Wen Youqing called him, her eyes curved. "Try this mutton. It's been stewed for several hours, so it should be tender enough."
At four o'clock, they asked for red envelopes, saying "I wish the young lady and her husband a deep love", and retreated with a look of understanding on their faces amid Wen Youqing's laughter and scolding.
The two sat facing each other. Outside, the snowy night was quiet; inside, the warmth of lights and the aroma of food filled the air. No formalities, no delicacies, just the simplest companionship.
Shen Zijie picked up a piece of mutton, the meat was tender and tasty, with the bold spices unique to the frontier. He picked up the coarse porcelain wine glass, which contained warm Shaodaozi, spicy but warming.
"Thank you for your hard work this year." Shen Zijie looked at Wen Youqing, his voice low and sincere. He knew how much effort it took to prepare this table in this border town with relatively scarce supplies.
Wen Youqing also picked up the wine glass, which contained warm rice wine: "You have worked hard too." Her eyes were sparkling, reflecting the candlelight and his figure.
The wine glasses clinked gently, making a crisp sound. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, and warmth instantly spread throughout his body. Shen Zijie looked at Wen Youqing's gentle face in the candlelight, listening to her soft whispers about plans for the water diversion canal after the spring, the wintering of the newly planted saplings, and the various gags from each Spring Festival Gala.
An unprecedented, weighty sense of contentment and an indescribable bitterness gripped him simultaneously. Content with the peace of the moment, bitter at the heavy shackles in his heart—about his past life, about his self-perceived unworthiness.
The New Year's Eve dinner was quiet and warm. Chen Zijie didn't say much; Wen Youqing did most of the talking. He listened quietly, occasionally responding, but his eyes never left her. He greedily absorbed this warmth, yet handled it with the same care as if holding fragile glass.
After dinner, when everything was cleaned up, Wen Youqing excitedly pulled out a few strings of bright red firecrackers and a few small fireworks. "We set off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and welcome the New Year!" Her eyes sparkled with childlike joy.
Shen Zijie looked at her lively and lively, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up. He took the firecrackers and said, "It's cold outside, wear more clothes."
The two of them wrapped themselves in thick fur coats and pushed open the door. The crisp air mixed with the scent of snow hit them in the face, instantly refreshing them.
The small open space in front of the mansion was covered in thick snow. Wen Youqing lit a thin stick of incense and carefully approached the fuse of the firecracker.
Hiss—the fuse ignited sparks.
"Run!" Wen Youqing smiled and pulled Shen Zijie's hand, and the two quickly retreated a few steps.
Crackling! The deafening explosion instantly ripped through the tranquility of the snowy night. Red scraps of paper exploded on the white snow, like blooming red plum blossoms, carrying the strong flavor of the New Year and the power to dispel all gloom.
Wen Youqing covered her ears, her eyebrows curved with laughter, the firelight reflected on her cheeks red, "It would be great if I had a fairy wand, I don't know how to make this thing."
Shen Zijie stood half a step in front of her, his tall body blocking most of the flying debris and cold wind for her. Seeing her happy expression, his usual gentleness and courtesy seemed to be pried open by this noisy and festive atmosphere.
The sound of firecrackers had just died down, and the air was still thick with the smell of gunpowder. Si Shi and the others had already made snowballs and were boldly throwing them at Wen Youqing. In an instant, the five or six masters and servants were engaged in a brawl.
So much so that he didn't even hear the approaching footsteps or the voices of children.
It was not until Wen Youqing bumped into someone and hurriedly said sorry that Shen Zijie hurriedly supported Wen Youqing. Wen Youqing realized that the atmosphere was wrong. She looked up and saw Cui Junji and the woman with a slightly frown behind him.
Cui Junji silently withdrew the hand he had extended to help the other person. He was wearing a black cloak with a Suzhou embroidered collar, and his face seemed a little blurry under the light of the snow and the light coming through the mansion gate.
Madam Li behind him was wearing a luxurious silver fox fur cloak, her hair was tied up high, she was adorned with pearls and jade, and her makeup was exquisite and flawless. Even on a cold snowy night, she maintained the dignified demeanor of a lady from a noble family.
A servant beside them held a one-year-old boy in his arms. It was none other than their legitimate son, Cui Zhang. Wrapped up like a small snowball, his delicate face exposed, he gazed curiously at the scattered red firecracker debris on the ground. Two humble, courteous maids accompanied him, creating a truly impressive procession.
The atmosphere suddenly became a little subtle.
Sishi patted the snow off Wen Youqing's body, and Wen Youqing also hurriedly patted the snow off Shen Zijie's body.
Shen Zijie hurriedly bowed and said, "My dear brother, sister-in-law, you are here to enjoy the snow too. My husband and I are having so much fun. I'm sorry, sorry."
Cui Junji glanced coldly at Wen Youqing, who was unable to suppress her smile, and replied, "It's us who disturbed your fun."
Wen Youqing, who had drunk a little, was a little confused at this time, and immediately said: "Then you can play together, your family, our family..."
Before he could finish his words, he was pulled behind him by Shen Zijie: "Your sister-in-law has a poor alcohol tolerance, please forgive me."
However, the two of them were familiar with each other and did not feel awkward. Only Li felt uncomfortable with this atmosphere. Her eyes, like a searchlight, fell on Wen Youqing at the first moment.
His gaze was calm, a condescending scrutiny, examining everything from Wen Youqing's half-worn, plain fur coat, devoid of any fur trim, to her unmade-up, yet delicate and gentle face, to the half-burned incense stick she held in her hand. There was no disdain, but a clear sense of distance, a divide between two worlds.
Li Xingye had heard of her and seen her before. Her memory still lingered on the impeccable official lady, not the casual woman before her. Even if she wanted to compare, she couldn't.
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